Moderator: Chris Jorgensen, IPC
Panelists: Stephanie Rodgers, Apex Mills, Kelly Scanlon, IPC and Jacqueline Campbell, CPSC

The smart fabrics industry presents a tremendous amount of opportunity for the U.S. textiles and technologies industries, but with those opportunities come challenges with consumer safety, government regulations and a qualified domestic supply base.

This panel will provide attendees with knowledge and insights on the barriers they will hit in getting products to market now and in the future, as well as how industry is working to address those barriers to reduce or eliminate hurdles. Following this panel, you will be able to bring back to your office helpful tools for your product development toolbox, including:

• Lessons learned by other product developers regarding consumer product safety and ways to avoid those pitfalls
• Environmental and public policy issues that this industry will run into and how you can work with policymakers to influence smart, relevant policies and regulations
• How to use industry standards developed by industry to establish a qualified domestic supply base as well as to reduce manufacturing costs and time to market
Attending this session will take you and your company from “Missed it by that much” to “Good thinking, 99.”

Jordan Schindler, Founder/CEO of Nufabrx

No longer is the day where clothing purchase is based on color, price or brand; what if primary decision making is driven by what benefit we want our clothing to impart on our bodies. Consumer health and wellness totally reimagined, and simplified, by delivering medications, vitamins and supplements directly through the garments that touch our bodies every day. Welcome to the world where textiles are the next forefront in drug delivery; and learn how everyday clothing is actually one of the best ways to solve patient compliance.

Jesse S. Jur, North Carolina State University; Department and Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Science

Innovation in the smart space is challenged by a multitude of issues, including a lack of use case understanding, low-cost manufacturing strategies, and benchmark testing. Of particular interest is how best to utilize, develop or leverage academic research and development as a way to resolve these issues. This presentation explores academic-industry engagement strategies to help companies think outside the box and foster new talent in this emerging marketplace.

Paige Mullis, Director, Concept Development | Advanced Projects, Glen Raven, Inc.

Discover 4 key elements needed to evolve your culture and why these are important. Explore examples and ideas of how to achieve these in any organization.